Means for automatically locking and retaining opening closures in an open position



Nov. 17, 1925- 1,561,606 I C- H. HAYS MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY LOCKING AND RETAINING OPENING CLOSURES IN AN OPEN POSITION Filed Sept. 27, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l ill 15 a- Ma /2 l, E 1 m1" 7 t 1t lxvvewvvm J i I fi" Co /v5.1.0.5 H/7Avs Nov. 17 1925 C. H. HAY, MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY IJOCKING AND RETAINING OPENING CLOSURES IN AN OPEN POSITION Filed Sept. 27, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fivvzwrm: COR/V500: Ii Mrs WAGK Patented Nov. 17, 1925.

tiNi'lED STATES 1,561,606 PATENT OFFICE.

CORNELIUS H. HAYS, F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

MEANS FOR AU'LOIWATICALLY LOCKING AND RETAINING OPENING CLOSURES IN AN OPEN POSITION.

Application filed September of @hio, have invented new and useful Improvei'nents in llieans for i-lutomatically Locking and Retaining Opening Closin'es in an Open Position, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

My invention relates to means adapted automatically to lock and retain in any desired open position a closure for a wall opening, as said closure is being manually pulled pen. In the preferred form of my invention, the same is combined with. a door hinge, and the invention in its preferred form is herein shown and described in its application to the operation of the door of a garage, for instance. iowever, it is not necessary to apply the invention to a standard hinc'e, but other elements may be substituted for the hinge element and the invention applicable to other types of doors, as also to windows and other forms of closures for openings, all as plainly shown and de-, scribed in connection with a modified form of the invention herein inserted to illustrate the general application of the same.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain means embodying my in ention, such means constiti I however, but two of the various forms in which the principle of the invention may be applied.

in said annexed drawings:

Figure 1 represents a plan view of the preferred form of my invention, the same being illus rated as applied to a garage and garage door, fragmentaryportions of which are indicated by dot-and-dash lines, the improved holding means being shown in locked position, i. e., when the door is in open position;

Figure 2 represents a plan view of the elements shown in Figure 1, when the improved holding means are in unlocked position, i. e., when the door is closed;

Figure 3 represents a front elevation of the elements shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4: represents a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section, taken in the plane 27, 192&.

Serial Ne. 74.0,248.

the standard door hinge is not utilized, but

other elements are substituted in lieu thereof, this view showing the locking and retaining means in locked position, i. e., when the door is open;

Figure 6 represents a plan View of the elements shown in Figure 5, when the looking and retaining means are in open position, i. e., when the door is closed;

Figure '7 represents a front elevation of the elements shown in Figure 6; and

Figure 8 represents a vertical longitudinal section, taken in the plane indicated by the line VIII-VIIL Figure 6.

My invention presupposes the presence of some building, wall or other support, formed with an opening, and having a closure for said opening forming a second support. For instance, in Figure 1, a fragmentary porf on of the front of a garage is indicated by the ordinal 1,'the same being formed with a door opening adapted to be covered by the door 2. The purpose of the invention is to design simple, strong and effective means for automatically locking and holding the door 2 in any desired open position, as the same is being opened to uncover the door opening for any purpose. 1. provide a pair of relatively pivoted members adapted to he secured respectively to the garage 1 and the door 2. In Figures 1, 2, 3 and i, I havutilized one of the door hinges to serve as the pair of relatively pivoted members and, v

in fact, have applied the parts of the hinge so as to form a constituent part of the looking and retaining means, the same, in co1nbination with the hinge, presumably being sold and applied as a unitary structure. To this end I illustrate a standard form of hinge having the leaves 3 and 4t pivotally connected together by the pintle 5. The respective leaves 3 and 4 of this hinge are secured to the garage 1 and the door 2 in the usual manner. The new features proper of the invention comprise a third member which is a rigid member adapted for pivotal attachment to one of the supports or to one of the pair of relatively pivoted members and, as shown, is a suitably shaped arm 6 pivoted adjacent one end to either the support 1 or the door 2 and so controlled by some suitable means acting upon the same adjacent its other end as to cause the arm to tend to swing on its pivot and carry said other end toward the support to'which the pivoted end is secured. For purposes of illustration, in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, I have shown the hinge leaf 3 formed with pair of integral, struck-up ears '7 between which one end of the arm 6 is pivoted, and I have shown a coiled spring 8 secured to the other end of the arm 6 and also secured to any suitable part of the garage 1, said part being illustrated as the usual jamb It is evident that the action of the elements so far described will be that of pulling" the free swinging end of the arm 6 toward the jamb 9, the fastened end of the arm 6 turning between the gears 7. A further design of the invention is to provide a second new member which is secured to that support to which the arm 6 is not pivoted and adapted to restrain somewhat the tendency of the arm 6 thus to turn upon its pivoted end, until the door 2 is opened to the desired position, when this restraint automatically will be somewhat modified and the resultant action will bringinto play elements which will then lock and retain the door. To this end and for purposes of illustration, I have formed the hinge leaf 1 with a longitudinal groove 10, a registering e roove being also formed in the door 2, the

length of this groove being somewhat'greater than the width of the arm 6, so that the arm 6 will freely play in the groove 10 and the corresponding groove in the door 2, as the latter is opened and shut.

It is evident that the action of the spring 8 will cause the arm 6 closely to ride over the end 11 of the groove 10. In that edge of the arm 6 which faces the support 1, I provide a slot 12 which forms a. pair of shoulders 13 in said arm against which the part 4. of the hinge leaf 4 adjacent the interior of the groove edge 11 abuts, when said leaf portion 4 snaps into the slot 12 under the action of the spring 8. Of course, the slot 12 is formed in the arm 6 at that point which brings this action into play when the door has been opened to the desired position.

In order more etl'ectivelv to lock and retain the door in this positiomI undercut the slot 12 so as to form the lug 1 1 in the arm 6 wh ch registers with and extends into a small hole 15 formed in the hinge leaf 4, all as plainly shown in Figure 1. In order to close the door 2, it is necessary manually to pull the arm 6 against the action of the sprino; 8 and release the hinge leaf 4 from the slot 12.

As pla nly shown in Figures 1 and it ray be desired to provide a plurality of th slots 12 so that the door 2 can be locked open in a selective position. In this event, it is necessary to manually retain the arm 6 so as to prevent those slots 12, which it is desired to pass by, from interlocking with the hinge leaf I and thus allow this hinge leaf to interlock with that slot 12 which effects the desired selective open position of the door 2.

In Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8, I have illustrated how my improved locking and retaining means can be applied to a door already provided with hinges 16 and without disturbing these hinges 16. To this end, I apply plates 3 and 4 to the garage 1 and door 2, respec tively, the same serving the purposes heretofore described respecting hinge leaves 3 and at in the construction shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and l. The rigid member which is adapted for pivotal attachment to a support at one end is illustrated by the curved arm 6 and the second member which is adapted for attachment to a second support is illustrated by the plate 1. The plate 3 is formed with. the ears 7 and the plate, 1 is formed with the longitudinal groove 10 and the small hole 15 adapted to interlock with the lug 14; formed upon the arm 6. The further construction and the action are the same as those fully described in detail with reference to the combination hinge and locking means shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4.

I wish particularl Y to point outthat the arm 6 is a punching which may be blanked at one operation; that the whole assembly is simple, easily and conveniently applied, and effective. At the same time, the invention can be very economically produced and is of very general application.

What I claim is:

1. In means of the character described, the combination, for use with two supports of which one is a movable opening closure, of a rigid member adapted for pivotal attachment at one end to one of said supports; means tending to swing the free end of said member in one direction relative to said support: a second member adapted for attachment to the second support, said second member opposing said swinging means; and automatic interlocking means formed on sa d two members and adapted under the action of said swinging means, when said opening closure is moved, to become engaged and retain the closure in a desired position relative to the other support. 7

2. In means of the character described, a rigid member adapted for pivotal attachment at one end to a fixed support: means tending to swine the free end of said member in one direction relative to said support; a second member adapted for attachment to a door. said second member opposing said swinging means; and automatic interlocking means formed on said two members and adapted under the action of said swinging means, when said door is opened, to become engaged and hold the door in a desired position.

3. In means of the character described, a rigid member adapted for pivotal attachment at one end to a fixed support; a spring tending to pull the free end of said member toward said support; a second member adapted for attachment to a door, said second member opposing the action oi said spring; and automatic interlocking means formed on said two n'iembers and adapted under the action of said spring, whensaid door is opened, to become engaged and hold the door in a desired position.

41-. In means of the character described, a rigid member adapted for pivotal attachment at one end to a fixed support; a s n'ing tending to pull the free end of said member toward said support; a second member adapted for attachment to a door, said sec- ,ond member opposing the action of said spring; and an interlocking shoulder and groove formed respectively upon said two members and adapted, under the action of said spring, when said door is opened, to become engaged and hold the door in a de sired position.

5. In means of the character described, a rigid member adapted for pivotal attachment at one end to a fixed support; a spring tending to pull the free end of said member toward said support; a second member adapted for attachment to a door, said second member opposing the action of said spring, a longitudinal, elongated groove being formed in said second member through which said rigid member extends; and a plurality of shoulders formed on said rigid member and adapted successively to interlock with said groove, said groove and shoulders being adapted under the action of said spring, when said two first-mentioned members are relatively moved, automaticall to become engaged and hold said two members relatively stationary, said spring being adapted manually to be rendered ineffective whereby any desired shoulder may interlock with said groove to hold said two members in any desired selective position.

6. In means of the character described, for use with two supports of which one is a movable opening closure, the combination of two relatively pivoted members provided with means adapting the same for rigid attachment to the respective supports; a third member providedwith means adapting the same for pivotal movement relative to one of said two members; and means tending to swing said third member in one direction upon its pivot, the other of said two mem bers opposing said swinging action, said last-mentioned member and said third mem her being provided with automatic interlocking means adapted under the action of said swinging means, when said two firstmentioned members are relatively moved, to become engaged and hold saidtwo members in a desired relative position and hence to hold the opening closure in a desired position.

7. In means of the character described, for use with two supports of which one is a movable opening closure, the con'ibination of two relatively pivoted members provided with means adapting the same for rigid attachment to the respective supports; a third member pivotally secured to one of said two members; and means tending to swing said third member in one direction upon its pivot, the other of said two IDQlHiJClS opposing said swinging action, said lastanentioned member and said third member being provided with. automatic interlocking means adapted under the action of said swinging means, when said two first-mentioned members are relatively moved, to become engaged and hold said two members in a desired relative position and hence to hold the opening closure in a desired position.

S. In means of the character described, for use with two supports of which one is a movable opening closure, the combination of two relatively pivoted members provided with means adapting the same for rigid attachment to the respective supports; a third member pivotally secured to one of said two members; and a spring tending to swing said third member in one direction upon its pivot, the other of said two members opposing the action of said spring, said last-mentioned member and said third member being provided. with automatic interlocking means adapted under the action of said spring, when said two first-mentioned members are relatively moved, to become engaged and hold said two members in a desired relative position and hence to hold the opening closure in a desired position.

9. In means of the character described, for use with two supports of which one is a movable opening closure, the combination oi? two relatively pivoted. members provided with means adapting the same for rigid attachment to the respective supports; a third member pivotallv secured to one of said two members: and a spring tending to swing said third member in one direction upon its pivot, the other of said two members opposing the action of said spring, said last-mentioned member and said third member being formed, respectively, with an interlocking shoulder and groove adapted under the action of said spring, when said two first-mentioned members are relatively moved, automatically to become engaged and hold said two members in a desired relative position and hence to hold the opening closure in a desired position.

10. In means of the character described, for use with two supports of which one is a movable opening closure, the combination of two relatively pivoted members provided with means adapting the same for rigid attachment to the respective supports; a third member pivotally secured to one of said two members; and a spring tending to swing said third member in one direction upon its pivot, the other of said two members oppos ing the action of said spring, said last-mentioned member and said third member being respectively formed with a groove and a plurality of shoulders adapted successively to interlock with said groove, said groove and shoulders being adapted under the action of said spring, when said two first-mentioned members are relatively moved, automatically to become engaged and hold said two members relatively stationary, said spring being adapted manually to be rendered ineffective whereby any desired shoulder may interlock with said groove to hold said two members in any desired selective position and hence to hold the opening closure in any desired selective position.

11. In means of the character described, the combination with a support and a door; of hinge leaves respectively secured thereto, a rigid arm pivoted adiacent one end to said support, a spring secured to said arm adjacent its other end, said spring being secured to said support also, the door hinge-leaf opposing the tendency'of said spring, and interlocking means provided on said door hinge-leaf and said arm and adapted to become ei'igaged under the spring action, as the door is opened, automatically to lock the door open in a desired position.

12. In means of the character described, the combination with a support and a door; of hinge leaves respectively secured thereto, a rigid arm pivoted adjacent one end to said support, a spring secured to said arm adja cent its other end, said spring being secured to said support-also, a groove being formed in the door hinge-leaf through which said arm extends, and a shoulder formed on said arm with which said groove is adapted to interlock under the action of the spring, when the door has been opened to a desired position.

13. In means of the character described, the combination with a support and a door; of hinge leaves respectively secured thereto, a curved arm pivoted adjacent one end to said support, a spring secured to said arm adjacent its other end, said spring being secured to said support also, a longitudinally elongated groove being formed in the door hinge-leaf through which said arm extends, and a plurality of shoulders formed on said arm with which said groove is adapted to interlock under the action of the spring, as the door is being opened, said spring being adapted manually to be rendered ineffective whereby any desired shoulder may interlock with said groove to hold the door in any desired selective position.

14. In mean of the character described, for use with two supports of which one is a movable openin closure, the combination of two relatively pivoted members provided with means adapting the same for rigid attachment to the respective supports; a third member provided with means adapting the same for pivotal movement relative to one of said two members; means tending to swing said third member in one direction upon its pivot, the other of said two members opposing said swinging action, said last-mentioned member and said third member being provided with automatic interlocking means adapted under the action of said swinging means, when said two first-mentioned members are relatively moved, to become engaged and hold said two members in a desired relative position and hence to hold the opening closure in a desired position; and an additional interengaging lug and hole formed on said members respectively.

15. In means of the character described, the combination with a support and a door; of hinge-leaves respectively secured thereto; a rigid arm pivoted adjacent one end to said support; a spring secured to said arm adjacent its other end, said spring being secured to said support also, a groove being formed in the door hinge-leaf through which said arm extends, a hole being formed in said hinge-leaf adjacent said groove; a shoulder formed on said arm with which said groove is adapted to interlock under the action 01": the spring, when the door has been opened to a desired position; and a lug formed on said arm and adapted to engage said hole when said shoulder and groove interlock.

Signed by me this 18th day of September,

CORNELIUS H. HAYS. 

